“I thought Theatre Guide ran a lovely prep race for this at Wetherby over a trip short of his best,” said Tizzard.

“He had a wind op in the summer and is right on the top of his game at the moment.

“I’d have said there wouldn’t be much at all between them on the terms they are meeting.

“This looks a beautiful race for Native River, definitely the right spot.

“He’s a Grade One-winning, second-season novice and he ran a lovely race over hurdles first time out.

“Of course it will be ultra-competitive, it always is, but I’d like to think they are both going there with excellent chances.”

Champion jockey Richard Johnson is still looking for his first win in the race but feels Native River has the right profile for a race of this magnitude.

Johnson said: “In the nicest way, he’s one-paced and he keeps galloping – he jumps and gallops, and that’s his forte.

“At Aintree that’s what he showed, and I thought he ran a really nice race over hurdles at Wetherby at the start of the season.

“That was definitely the best hurdle run of his life and he’s only six, you forget that.

“There’s every chance he’s probably improved a bit over the summer and Colin’s horses couldn’t be in better form, so you go there with all the positives.

“I think at Wetherby last year when he finished third to Blaklion – so it wasn’t a bad race – they thought he didn’t enjoy it as much as he enjoys decent ground, so ideally good to soft rather than soft would be better.

He runs Saphir Du Rheu, who was the beaten favourite last year, and the Scottish National winner Vicente.

“He (Vicente) might have only gone up 5lb for winning the Scottish National, but he was all out to win. I think giving horses who win 5lb is fair enough, it gives them a chance to win again,” said Nicholls.

“He’d dropped a few pounds and I think he’s on a high enough mark for what he’s achieved, but if he’s improved he’s a Scottish National winner who could run really tidy.”

Andy Stewart owns Saphir Du Rheu and has mixed feelings about the race.

“I’ve had My Will come second in it and Big Buck’s was coming to win when he unseated Sam Thomas. Obviously you can interpret that as good luck as he might not have gone back hurdling and did what he did,” said Stewart.

“When Saphir Du Rheu ran at Ascot he looked fat, but I’ve seen him since with Nick Scholfield schooling and he’s not fat now.

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"We're going there optimistic, he's still only seven and has 10lb less than last year when he was only six. I can't wait for it."

Nicky Henderson also has three wins to his name with Trabolgan, Bobs Worth and Triolo D'Alene, who is back again along with stablemates Vyta Du Roc and Hadrian's Approach.

"Triolo D'Alene does like good ground. He's in excellent form," said Henderson.

"Vyta Du Roc is very ready as well. They both had a gallop at Newbury last week and both worked on the grass (on Monday).

"Hadrian's has also been given a chance by the handicapper."

Henderson's former assistant Ben Pauling runs Local Show.

"He is probably best going right-handed, but he has been schooling very well," said Pauling.

"I always think the Hennessy is won by a very progressive horse and, considering he improved the best part of two stone last season, I just wonder how much more improvement is there."

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